Optimising aphid biocontrol with the predator Propylea dissecta, based on experimental evolution of a predatory population

Abstract

Abstract Intraspecific variation is the variation in morphology, physiology, behaviour, and social organisation of any species as it adapts to changing environmental circumstances by varying its feeding habits. In the present study, we investigated the disparities between the preselected (F1) and postselected (F15) populations of Propylea dissecta Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) when fed on four different prey species, namely Aphis gossypii Glover from bottle gourd, Lagenaria vulgaris Seringe (Cucurbitaceae), Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) from mustard, Brassica campestris Linnaeus (Brassicaceae), Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) from maize, Zea mays Linnaeus (Poaceae), and Uroleucon compositae (Theobald) from chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum indicum Linnaeus (Asteraceae), under an experimental evolution study. A simple bimodal pattern of distribution was obtained for each prey species, which was warped with variations in prey species for both F1 and F15. This research might provide the basis for further studies on the differential pace of development of various other prey species, improve understanding of ecological evolution, and provide a spectrum of fast-growing bioagents for the introduction of biological control strategy in pest management techniques against agropests.